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Lakers take positive step forward in loss

The Fort Frances Lakers played their best game after the Christmas break but ultimately came up on the short end of a 4-3 overtime loss to the visiting Dryden GM Ice Dogs on Friday night at the Ice For Kids Arena.

It marked the Lakers' fourth-straight loss but head coach/general manager Wayne Strachan felt his team made some positive strides.

“If you look at the three games we've played so far in the new year here, [it was] probably our best start,” he said after the game.

“The guys were a lot more focused it seemed," he noted. ”They did a few things different, which I think were very beneficial to getting them ready and, you know, it seemed like they were into it and ready to start.

“We win the first period, put ourselves in a good situation up two goals.”

Although they started well, Strachan conceded things fell apart for his squad in the second period.

“In the second, I thought we maybe stepped back a little bit intensity-wise and you could see it in our game,” he remarked.

"Sloppy plays, sloppy passes, and we weren't reading the ice defensively very well and gave up a lot of odd-man rushes. And because of it, we let them battle back in the game.

"The third period was a dogfight.

“I don't think we gave in any," Strachan stressed. ”[We] kept plugging and lost a few bodies throughout the game, so a lot guys were taxed having played Wednesday night [against the Thief River Falls Norskies], as well.

“I don't think you can fault their effort," he said. "Guys were into it; a big positive step for us.”

The fifth-place Lakers (11-19-1-0) resume action tonight on the road against those same Ice Dogs, who sit in fourth place in the SIJHL (15-12-3-1).